She Was a Phantom of Delight

As Wordsworth describes his growing relationship with Mary, his emphases change as he comes to know her better. One element, however, remains constant. There is something about Mary that transcends the material, earthly world. She has a spiritual feel about her; indeed, she is twice described simply as “a Spirit” (Lines 12, 29). It is this quality which makes her special. The poet initially saw her as a “Phantom of delight” (Line 1) and “lovely Apparition” (Line 3), suggesting he perceived some aspect of her as beyond the ordinary. This otherworldly element remains a constant part of her, even as the poet elaborates in Stanzas 2 and 3 on her admirable human qualities and ability to handle worldly responsibilities. Despite her maturation, she still has a brightness he compares to “angelic light” (Line 30).

This is, of course, not a portrait of Mary in any objective sense—rather, this is Mary as the poet sees her. Wordsworth was a visionary poet; he sought to see beyond the day-to-day appearances of things. He attributed this talent to the power of imagination, which, in his view, allowed him to perceive the deepest essence of reality, the point at which the human and divine world intersected.